This program is based on the design thinking methodology that provides a solution-based approach to solving problems. During the course, participants will be solving real-life challenges in groups consisting of participants from in and outside the university, representing different generations and cultural backgrounds. The challenges are provided by companies and organizations from Oulu and UNIC partner countries. Besides the design thinking methodology, the theoretical frameworks of the course consist of art- and futures thinking techniques. At the end of the course, students will have the opportunity to present their solutions at the Future Fest Event and attend the UNIC CityLabs Festival.

 

UNIC Generations’ Lab is a Blended Intensive Program (BIP) and it consists of a virtual and physical phase.

 

During the virtual phase (Seminars 1-5) students are introduced to the case they will be working on and to their teams. The virtual seminars are based on the design thinking methodology and each seminar introduces one stage of the methodology. After Seminar 5 the course will continue with the physical phase on campus at the University of Oulu. Besides the seminar students are expected to have weekly group meetings and do independent work.

 

Students are required to complete a series of online seminars scheduled in May, as well as travel to the University of Oulu in Finland to attend the physical phase of the course for 5 days and the UNIC CityLabs Festival in June on a funded basis.

 

Please click here to download the syllabus with the schedule.

Through joining this program, the participants will:

• Develop their creative thinking
• Develop their collaboration skills with people representing different generations, cultures, and fields of science
• Develop entrepreneurial leadership
• Increase their understanding of design thinking, art thinking, and futures thinking
• Manage uncertainty and ambiguity
• Learn how to use diversity and improbable encounters to develop business
• Create practical solutions to real-life challenges

The program is open to all Koç University bachelor’s and master’s students with (except the students in their last semester):

• A minimum GPA of 2.2
• TOEFL IBT 80, IELTS 6.5, KUEPE 60, TOEFL PBT 550, Koç TOEFL 550

* Students can apply using their expired language scores as well.

• A most current CV and motivation letter (300 words) are required.
• This program might be of special interest to students who have an interest in design thinking, innovation, and problem-solving techniques.

 

Selection criteria:

• The application scores of the students shall be calculated based on 50% GPA+ 50% English proficiency exam result (100-point system).
• An additional 10 points shall be provided to students who have not previously participated in Erasmus+ (KA131, KA171), Global Exchange, and Summer Exchange programs.
• Students with disabilities, who submit supporting documents during the application, shall be provided with an additional 10 points.
• An additional 5 points shall be provided to students who have previously joined one of the Koç University UNIC CityLabs (Inclusion of Migrants and Refugees in Cities on 25 June 2021, City Resilience Against Climate Change: The Case of Istanbul on 24 September 2021, Older People and City Life: Participation and Access Challenges on 3 March 2022.

 

Students shall be ranked according to the score they have received.

 

IMPORTANT:

As set by KOÇ UNIVERSITY PROCEDURE FOR INTERNATIONAL BLENDED INTENSIVE PROGRAMS,

Since the BIPs shall be held during the semester, students can take a BIP within their normal course load and if they meet the necessary conditions within the framework of course overload. The total number of courses to be taken (BIP and KU courses) cannot exceed the total number of courses that a student is allowed to take in a given semester. Students who do not have the right to take courses above the normal course load shall be required to write a petition to the Faculty Board if they have a request in this regard. Students who receive a favorable response to their petition shall need to declare this in their application.

 

*Students who apply must have a passport with at least six months of validity when traveling internationally. Most countries will not permit a traveler to enter their country unless the passport is set to expire at least six months after the final day of travel.

 

*Students who apply are responsible to check and must meet the vaccination requirements of Finland. Please note: Due to the spread of the coronavirus variant travel restrictions can change rapidly. For official information please refer to the Finnish Border Guard and the Finnish institute for health and welfare.

 

 

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5 students will be selected and granted funding in the initial phase. After the first five students have been placed, there might be other spots opening depending on the availability of funds, in which case students with the top scores on the waiting list will be accepted to the program.

 

BIPs take place within the framework of the Erasmus+ program and therefore the selected students will receive a grant to travel for the physical part of the program.

 

• Daily Grant for Physical Mobility

Duration of the activity	Grant amount (Program countries or Partners)
Up to 14 days of activity	70 Euros per day
From the 15th to the 30th day of the activity	50 Euros per day

 

 

An individual support grant can be awarded for one travel day before the activity and one travel day following the activity. OIP decides and implements this according to the availability of the relevant Erasmus+ budget. Detailed information will be provided to the selected students along with the announcement of the selection results.

 

 

• Additional Grant Opportunity for Disadvantaged Students

 

An Additional Grant Support may be provided to disadvantaged participants in addition to the regular grant they will receive. In order to qualify for the said grant, the disadvantaged participant is defined as an individual with limited economic and social opportunities and who fits into the following sub-categories:

 

• Those who are subject to Law No. 2828 (Those who have a protection, care, or shelter decision by the Ministry of Family and Social Services pursuant to Law No. 2828)

 

• Students for whom protection, care, or accommodation decision has been taken within the scope of Child Protection Law No. 5395

 

• Those who receive an orphan’s pension

 

• Children of Martyrs / Veterans

 

• Those who are granted a neediness pension for themselves or their families (if the student, his/her parents or guardians receive financial support from municipalities, public institutions and organizations (Ministries, Social Welfare and Solidarity Foundations, T.R. Directorate General of Foundations, Turkish Red Crescent, Ministry of Interior Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD), it is sufficient to submit a document proving that they receive financial support at the time of their Erasmus application.)

 

The following amounts of Additional Grant Support can be provided for short-term physical mobility to students who meet the above criteria, upon their request and provided that they document this situation in their application:

 

 

Type of Mobility	Amount of Additional Grant Support
Short student mobility between 5 – 14 days	100 Euros in addition to the total daily grant
Short student mobility between 15 – 30 days	150 Euros in addition to the total daily grant

 

 

• Travel Grant for Disadvantaged Students

 

Distance	Standard Travel Grant Amount	Green Travel Grant Amount
10 – 99 KM	23
100 – 499 KM	180	210
500 – 1999 KM	275	320
2000 – 2999 KM	360	410
3000 – 3999 KM	530	610
4000 – 7999 KM	820
8000 KM and above	1500

 

The Travel Grant for Disadvantaged Students is given based on the same criteria as in the previous section.

 

 

• NEW: Green Travel Grant (for all students)

 

With the new Erasmus+ Program students are encouraged to use low-emissions means of transport for the main part of the travel, such as bus, train or car-pooling.

Students who will use these means of transport will receive a single contribution of 50 EUR as a top-up amount to the individual support and up to 4 days of extra grant to cover travel days for a return trip, if relevant.

 

IMPORTANT: At the end of the mobility, students are obliged to present documents (bus ticket, train ticket, etc.) proving that the green travel has taken place.

 

E – Erasmus Disability Grant/ Inclusion Support

 

Inclusion Support is available for students with disabilities and health conditions wishing to participate in a Blended Intensive Program and where participation would not be possible without extra financial support. Inclusion Support is provided in order to maintain adapted accommodation, travel assistance, medical attendance, supportive equipment, adaption of learning material, an accompanying person, etc. The Inclusion Support is offered when disabilities or health conditions lead to additional mobility costs, which exceed the maximum grant allocations allowed, and which cannot be recovered from other sources. The grant covers approved actual costs.

 

Requirements for application:

Special Need Support Request Form must be submitted to OIP when applying for a BIP in order to be considered for the Inclusion Support. This form includes the following:

• Additional requirements and additional costs to be met. A detailed estimate of costs is required.
• Information on any other sources of financial support that the student receives and why this is insufficient to cover extra costs.

 

Student’s application must include;

• A statement from a doctor or other authority confirming the disability or health condition, its severity, the impact on the Erasmus+ mobility.
• Copy of student’s identity about disability status.

 

After physical mobility:

• Students must keep receipts or invoices of any expenses they have spent for their special needs. Each expense must be documented after the mobility in order for OIP to report the grant to the European Commission. Unless it is documented, the additional grant must be returned to the National Agency.
• Students must submit documents regarding their expenses (i.e. receipts for accommodation, transportation (taxi, etc.), medical, or other) that supports the mobility under the BIP to the OIP.
• Students are obliged to submit the required mobility documents on time and follow the rules of the program in order to receive the Erasmus grant besides the Inclusion Support grant.

 

To cancel your application after getting selected, you need to submit a cancellation notice to the OIP, by sending your petition in an e-mail to nakpinar@ku.edu.tr

 

To download the cancellation notice, please click here.

1- Course Equivalency Form

All selected students must fill this out

 

2- Special Need Support Request Form

 

3- Cancellation Notice